Helmut Kohl

born 3 April 1930 Ludwigshafen

Abitur (school leaving certificate), studied history, as of 1947 member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and German politician, city councillor in Ludwigshafen, leader of the parliamentary group of the CDU, member of parliament in the federal state of Rheinland-Pfalz, minister president of Rheinland-Pfalz, chairman of the CDU from 1973, member of the National Assembly (Bundestag) from 1976 and chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag; 1982-1998 Chancellor; participated significantly in the reunification process of East und West Germany, first Chancellor of the reunified Germany